FAQ – Why use the Grid?
Q2: What is this utility model?
Q4: What are the advantages of using Grid?
Q5: What kind of applications can run on the grid?
Grid computing is the application of several computers to a single problem at the same time – usually to a scientific or technical problem that requires a great number of computer processing cycles or access to large amounts of data. It is a form of distributed computing whereby a “super and virtual computer” is composed of a cluster of networked, loosely coupled computers, acting in concert to perform very large tasks. This technology has been applied to computationally intensive scientific, mathematical, and academic problems through volunteer computing, and it is used in commercial enterprises for such diverse applications as drug discovery, economic forecasting, seismic analysis, and back-office data processing in support of e-commerce and Web services.
The difference between this and supercomputing is that the processors are complete computers that are connected in the network rather than custom built processors connected by a high speed bus in a supercomputer. The computers in a grid can be purchased at lower cost compared to a supercomputer which in turn translates to savings to the user.
2. What is this utility model?
The benefit of a utility model is that you only pay for what you use. In the traditional sense of owning your own hardware you are also paying for the time when your hardware is sitting idle, by using the grid you are only paying for time that you need.
Infrastructure-as-a-Service, is basically the provisioning of the hardware computing and storage time for users who want to make use of them. The user can make use of these hardware resources to run their data crunching needs or to run their applications instead of purchasing their own hardware for their purpose.
4. What are the advantages of using Grid?
Grid can help a number of ways.
- Periodic Spikes in demand – If your business needs a site to cater for spikes in demand, using the grid can help. You do not have to purchase new hardware to cater for the periodic surge.
- Lower Capital Expenditure – the infrastructure for the grid is already in place with our Grid Service Providers. You only have to pay for the compute time you use and do not have to purchase any hardware to run your application or service.
- Lower IT Overhead – You do not have to buy and maintain your own servers as the Grid Service Providers will do their own maintenance.
5. What kind of applications can run on the grid?
Applications that require large amounts of computation and data inherently run well on the grid but it is also suitable for web hosting and application hosting as well.
Feel free to contact any of our Grid Service Providers below :
nGrid
Alan Woo – alan@newmediaexpress.com
Alatum
Clement Lim – clementlim@singtel.com
PTC
Yee Rok Seng – rokseng@ptcsys.com.sg